President Vladimir Putin has enacted laws that expand Russia’s LNG export capabilities. The new statutes authorize the sale and shipment of liquefied natural gas from a number of Rosneft fields and from NOVATEK projects, regardless of the precise geographic area involved. The information was published on Russia’s legal information portal. The changes mark a shift in how LNG produced from fields north of the 67th parallel can reach global markets, signaling a broader mandate for export by companies with significant state stakes.
Under the new framework, LNG exports from fields located entirely or partially north of the 67th parallel are permitted for companies where the state holds more than a 50 percent share. The regulation specifically covers 36 Rosneft fields situated in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, as well as in the Nenets and Yamalo-Nenets regions. This is a meaningful expansion of export rights that had previously been more tightly constrained by area-specific rules.
In addition, the laws grant NOVATEK subsidiaries the authority to export LNG without being confined to particular designated regions. Prior to these amendments, the export rights were largely held by Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 1-3 projects. The new legislation brings Murmansk LNG and Cryogas-Vysotsk into the same strategic category, enabling them to participate more actively in international LNG markets.
Officials say the reforms are designed to monetize gas reserves in hard-to-reach areas and to increase overall LNG export capacity. The policy intent is to unlock additional value from remote gas resources and to bolster Russia’s role in supplying LNG to global customers, potentially improving revenue diversification and regional energy dynamics.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy offered comments regarding the timeline for lifting a partial ban that had restricted some fuel exports from the Russian Federation. The ministry’s briefing suggested that the movement on export restrictions would be gradual and carefully coordinated with other regulatory considerations, aiming to balance domestic supply with international demand.
Separately, the Ministry of Agriculture had previously proposed a six-month ban on certain grain exports. The proposed measure would affect durum wheat, reflecting broader strategic considerations in balancing agricultural markets with energy policy and export flows.